EADS has demonstrated why BAE Systems was so keen to do last year’s abortive
£28 billion merger as Europe’s largest defence and aerospace group today
reported soaring profits in 2012.

The group, made up mainly of the Airbus commercial jetliner manufacturer,
reported revenues up by 15 per cent and profits ahead by nearly a fifth.

The strong showing by EADS on the back of a booming civil aerospace market
comes just days after military-oriented BAE reported falling sales, down 7
per cent, and profits off 6 per cent. A proposed merger between the two
companies fell apart in November following